Veterans are at a high risk of developing an asbestos-related illness such as mesothelioma or asbestosis later in life. Many military personnel will have come into contact with the toxic material at some point of their service — whether it was in the offices or barracks they stayed in, or the ships, planes and tanks they traveled in.
MORE: Why veterans have such a high risk of developing mesothelioma.
According to asbestos.com, some members of the military will be at an even higher risk of asbestos exposure depending on where they served, what branch of the military they were in and what role that performed.
U.S. Navy veterans are among the most at-risk of developing an asbestos-related disease. The ships they sailed on contained asbestos in many of the components of the vessels to safeguard against fire. Service men and women who worked aboard naval ships from the 1930s up until the 1990s may have been exposed to asbestos.
Many veterans will have continued to be exposed to asbestos in civilian life, with many opting to do the types of jobs they had done during their time in service. Plumbers, mechanics, electricians, construction workers, and industrial workers will have further increased their risk of developing deadly diseases due to asbestos contamination.
MORE: Three things to know about mesothelioma and veterans
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